I started running again nine weeks ago after a six year lay-off. I was sooo unfit and couldn't run half a mile. I went out every day on a 2.5m circuit doing a run/walk. At week seven I ran 13miles non stop. It was hard, but I could have gone on a bit further. I now average 30miles a week, plus a 1hr swim, 1hr circuit session and 1hr session with a PT. I am doing the Midnight Sun Marathon in Norway next June. I have pushed myself and have had some bloody awful runs, in awful weather but I know I will always feel better afterwards. My goal is not to be last and to run the whole distance. It is a pretty serious run and there are usually only about 500 runners. It's a hilly course but I live in the Lake District so I am getting pretty used to getting up the hills. I lost 2 stone with Cambridge earlier this year and have since lost another five pounds. I have toned up and apart from the knee and ankle pain which are the runners constant companion, I feel really well. I don't have the horrible monthly cramps that used to put me in bed for days. I can't recommend running enough and can't remember why I ever stopped! So, if you're sitting on the sofa reading this, pull on your trainers (that's always the hardest bit!) and get outside. The first two weeks will be horrible and you will feel like you are running in treacle but it does get better with perseverence and when you run your first 5k without stopping you will feel amazing. You will stop eating crap, will feel energised and will lose weight, will miss it if you don't get a session in and best of all it's free!